This study investigates the punching shear response of flat slabs made with polymer nanocomposite materials and different amounts of shear reinforcement under monotonic loading. Eight slab models were analyzed using three-dimensional finite element analysis, including both normal concrete and polymer nanocomposite slabs. The results show that adding shear reinforcement increases the load the slabs can carry and limits their deformation. In the polymer nanocomposite models, the ultimate load increased from 525 kN without shear reinforcement to 562.5 kN with Ø12 shear reinforcement, while the maximum deflection was reduced by up to 38.1%. Compared with the normal concrete models, the polymer nanocomposite slabs carried 45–55% higher loads and dissipated up to 238% more energy. The higher stiffness and shear resistance obtained with additional reinforcement were accompanied by a small reduction in ductility, indicating a stiffer response before failure. The stress contours also showed that larger shear reinforcement diameters spread the stress over a wider region and reduced the concentration around the column. Taken together, the results show that polymer nanocomposite materials can improve the punching shear response of flat slabs, particularly when combined with suitable shear reinforcement.
Building Information Modeling for Facility Management (BIM-FM) has gained increasing attention as an approach to improving building operation and lifecycle management. However, BIM-FM adoption in Thailand remains limited due to organizational, technological, and managerial challenges. This study aims to identify and prioritize the barriers affecting BIM-FM adoption within the Thai context using the Delphi method. A two-round Delphi study was conducted with 29 experts from academia and industry with experience in BIM-FM. The questionnaire was developed based on a literature review and expert interviews. The findings indicate that insufficient management support, budget limitations, inadequate training, shortages of BIM-FM experts, and the lack of standardized data management practices are the most significant barriers. The results also suggest that these barriers are interrelated and can be categorized into three levels: root causes, operational barriers, and outcome barriers. In addition, the study proposes a BIM-FM implementation framework to support sustainable facility management practices. This research contributes to the BIM-FM body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence from a developing-country context and highlighting the influence of organizational and policy-related factors on BIM-FM adoption in Thailand.
Large-scale sports infrastructure represents one of the most energy-intensive building typologies, posing significant challenges to national climate strategies especially the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the integration of renewable energy systems within the built environment. This research proposes a decision-support framework to transition sports stadia from high-demand consumers to Net Plus-Energy (NPE) hubs within decentralized Energy Communities, supplying the main grid with excess energy within the surrounding community. Using TRNSYS simulation software, the study evaluates the renewable energy potential of the International Olympic Stadium in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. The methodology integrates environmental data analysis with smart storage management to develop various energy autonomy scenarios. Results indicate that the optimized configuration not only meets the stadium’s total annual demand but generates a significant surplus represent 46% excess energy of the stadium renewable sources generation, validating the feasibility of the stadium as a primary energy node. This study provides a quantitative framework for evaluating energy autonomy in mega-scale buildings and offers strategic recommendations for the Egyptian Building Code to enhance renewable technology integration and opens up for a new section within the Code regarding new building types, directly supporting Egypt Vision 2030 and global energy transition goals.
Even though the integration of BIM and digital twin technologies is still relatively new, it has rapidly become a key research focus due to the urgent need for a technologically advanced and sustainable built environment. This research paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric literature analysis of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twins in the construction sector. By exploring a global dataset of 239 publications, the study dives into co-citation, co-authorship, and keyword patterns to pinpoint influential authors, emerging research clusters, and key trends. The findings show a rapid surge in BIM research, peaking in 2023, with international collaborations driven by countries like the United Kingdom, China, and Australia. The thematic clusters emphasize sustainability, Industry 4.0, construction 4.0, and smart city development, highlighting how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and automation are changing construction management. This analysis paper shines a light on future opportunities for seamlessly integrating BIM and Digital Twins into construction and smart infrastructure projects, serving as a strategic roadmap for researchers and practitioners to understand the evolving BIM and Digital Twin research area.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of steel clamps as a low-cost passive confinement system for reinforced concrete (RC) under axial compression. Cylindrical RC specimens with different unconfined strengths, reinforcement types, and numbers of steel clamps (3, 5, and 11) were experimentally tested to investigate their influence on failure modes, compressive strength, strain capacity, and energy dissipation. The results show that steel clamp confinement significantly delayed cracking, improved ductility, and enhanced compressive performance. Peak compressive strength increased by up to 77%, while strain at peak strength and ultimate strain improved by up to 268% and 900%, respectively. Energy dissipation increased by nearly 2000% in highly confined specimens. Based on the experimental data, nonlinear regression-based expressions were developed to predict peak strength, peak strain, and post-peak degradation behavior, enabling accurate simulation of the full stress–strain response. The proposed analytical model follows the ACI 440 formulation style and provides a practical design-oriented tool for applying steel clamp confinement in RC elements.
In line with its Vision 2040 goals for economic diversification, the Sultanate of Oman holds extensive but largely untapped basalt reserves. This study presents a screening-level techno-economic analysis and strategic roadmap for transforming this indigenous resource from a low-value commodity into a cornerstone of a high-value and sustainable industrial ecosystem. The research methodology integrates a quantitative analysis of Oman's current basalt sector with a formal comparative economic model to quantify the potential for value addition. The study highlights a stark economic contrast: exporting raw basalt earns only about $7.30 per tonne, while converting it into Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) rebar can generate over $2,500 per tonne. The analysis shows a conservative value increase of more than 300 times, with a preliminary Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) demonstrating that BFRP significantly outperforms traditional steel economically in infrastructure projects. It also confirms that Omani basalt from the Samail Ophiolite is exceptionally well-suited for producing advanced fibers. Furthermore, this paper identifies and discusses a parallel strategic opportunity for Oman to leverage these same geological formations for large-scale, permanent carbon sequestration with the potential for clean hydrogen co-generation. The paper concludes by proposing a phased strategic roadmap for Oman, recommending the prioritized development of an integrated BFRP rebar value chain while initiating research into basalt-based climate technologies, thereby positioning the Sultanate as a future regional leader in both advanced green materials and the global energy transition.
Offshore high-pile wharves operate under harsh, variable loads that can mask the earliest signs of deterioration. We present a closed-loop structural health monitoring (SHM) framework that couples multimodal machine/deep learning with a physics-based digital twin (DT). A year-long field deployment at an operating high-pile wharf in Western Asia instrumented six piles with triaxial accelerometers and strain gauges (GPS-synchronized, 100 Hz). After quality control and environmental/operational variability normalization, an unsupervised VAE produces an anomaly score that is fused with a CNN–GNN classifier to yield window-level damage probabilities and pile-by-elevation localization. The DT assimilates these diagnostics through weighted least squares and an EKF, with measurement covariance derived from model uncertainty; “what-if” simulations quantify the structural consequence of candidate repairs. Under chronological splits with leave-one-pile-out, the framework achieves F1 = 0.95 and AUC-ROC = 0.98, with false-alarm rate ≈ 2–5 % and median detection latency ≈ 45 s. Spatial heatmaps consistently pinpoint the affected elevation, while online updating reduces mean frequency bias from ≈ 4.8 % to ≈ 0.9 % and increases mode-shape MAC from ≈ 0.81 to ≥ 0.92. First-mode shifts of ≈ 3–4 % observed in the field are reproduced by DT “stiffness-restoration” scenarios, enabling risk-informed maintenance planning. Compared on identical normalized windows, the proposed method outperforms classical vibration-based indices in both discrimination and false-alarm control. The results demonstrate a scalable, explainable pathway to predictive asset management for critical maritime infrastructure. Beyond structural safety, the proposed framework contributes to sustainable port operation by enabling condition-based maintenance, reducing unnecessary inspections, extending asset service life, and lowering the embodied carbon associated with premature repair or replacement.
The environmental impact of cement production has to be lowered since normal Portland cement generates approximately 0.8 kg CO2 per kilogram and produces approximately 10% of all emissions worldwide. This paper explores the effect of partial replacement of cement by addition of cementitious materials (SCM) which are fly ash, bagasse, silica fume, quartz powder and calcium carbonate on performance as well as sustainability. Water to binder ratios of 0.30 and 0.40 were used to prepare cement pastes with dosage of 5% to 25% by mass of SCM. Indirect tensile strength were conducted and estimated CO2 savings. The dominance patterns globally are indicated by the slope graphs of the winners at each W/C. The global dominance patterns are captured by the heatmaps with isocontours. The findings indicate that when quartz and bagasse ash content in low to moderate amounts (10–15percent) were replaced, tensile strength rose by 23–88 percent than in controls and clinker demand was minimized by as much as 15 percent. Silica fume showed the greatest uplift of +58% at 5–10 per cent mixes of high water-to-cement but showed no improvement at low W/C. Calcium carbonate showed more modest and broader, with maxims of 15–20 per cent replacement. Fly ash has always had a low performance on early age controls because of the slow pozzolanic reaction. The calculated sustainability indices showed that a 15 percent cement replacement will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 0.12 per tonne of binder, which depicts significant environmental advantages. Results show that quartz powder (10–15%) and bagasse ash (10–15 %) significantly enhance early age tensile strength (up to 88%), while a 15% cement replacement reduces embodied CO₂ by approximately 0.12 t per tonne of binder, demonstrating a direct performance sustainability synergy. This work shows that the direct correlation of mechanical performance with embodied CO2 reductions can be used to generate cleaner and sustainable binders through optimized use of agro-industrial wastes and filler type SCMs to promote both performance objectives and cleaner production strategies.
This research investigates the integration of heritage centers into the urban fabric to achieve sustainable development, with Diriyah in Saudi Arabia as a case study. The study emphasizes the dual objective of conserving cultural identity while promoting socio-economic vitality. The novelty of the research lies in combining Space Syntax analysis with a comprehensive literature review, offering a framework that links spatial configuration with heritage conservation. The methodology compares pre- and post-development scenarios of Diriyah, where global integration values increased by 27% and local connectivity improved by 19%, reflecting enhanced accessibility and potential social interaction. These findings provide evidence-based insights into how heritage preservation can be aligned with contemporary urban planning strategies, contributing to a broader model for sustainable revitalization in historic cities.
As cities in hot climate regions face escalating challenges from rapid urbanization and climate change,there is a pressing need for innovative strategies that reduce building energy demands while ensuring occupantcomfort and environmental quality. Semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) windows present a promising solution byenabling on-site renewable energy generation through building façades, without compromising daylight access orarchitectural integrity. This study proposes a practical framework for integrating STPV technologies to support urbansustainability in hot climates, based on a multi-dimensional analysis of energy performance, thermal behaviour, andvisual comfort under intense solar exposure. Critical design and operational challenges—such as overheating, glare,and dust accumulation—are examined to inform climate-responsive integration strategies. Insights from theMsheireb Smart City case study in Qatar illustrate how mixed-use developments can leverage STPV technologies toenhance energy efficiency, align with climate adaptation goals, and maintain cohesive architectural aesthetics.Findings suggest that STPV systems have the potential to reduce cooling loads by up to 25% and provide on-siteelectricity generation that could meet 10–20% of a building’s energy needs, depending on factors such as glazingtype, orientation, and integration method. This study also highlights the potential of STPV to contribute to policyrecommendations on sustainable energy practices in hot climates. By positioning STPV systems at the intersectionof renewable energy innovation and urban climate resilience, this research offers actionable guidance for advancingsustainability in hot-climate cities through integrated building design, energy strategy, and urban planning.
Social sustainability is a component of sustainability that has received attention in recent years. Its objective is to promote social well-being and improve the quality of life of people. Built environments play a significant role in social well-being in cities. Neighborhoods, therefore, being the essential physical and social components of cities, offer great opportunities for investigating the social sustainability of built environments. This paper examines social sustainability to produce a theoretical framework to examine the social issues related to cities. It employs a document survey as a research method and examines published literature systematically, to shed light on the multifaceted discourse surrounding social sustainability. It elucidates its diverse manifestations portrayed within scholarly discourse. The findings show that the concept revolves around two concepts: physical and non-physical attributes. They consist of several indicators measurable on objective and subjective criteria. These relate to both physical and non-physical attributes, as well as the aspirations and experiences of people, as a component of social sustainability. This research offers valuable insights into neighborhood-related social sustainability, establishing a foundation for academic investigations. It presents a novel framework of the two pillars of social sustainability, to clarify its multifaceted nature. The framework can help in developing a tool for a holistic comprehension of social sustainability
Sustainability is built on three key pillars: economic, environmental, and social. Among these, social sustainability has received the least scholarly attention. This study explores social sustainability with a focus on social interaction in public open spaces, identifying the factors that influence such interactions among neighborhood residents. Specifically, it seeks to answer the research question: What are the key factors that influence social interaction in public open spaces within residential neighborhoods? A qualitative content analysis is employed, synthesizing insights from academic articles, papers, and books. Additionally, a comparative case study approach is used to analyze multiple cases, revealing relationships, differences, and similarities. The findings highlight that a well-designed environment is crucial for fostering social interaction. Three main categories influencing social interaction in public open spaces are identified: Demographic Characteristics of Neighborhood Residents (DCNR), Physical Characteristics of Recreational Facilities (PCRF), and Social Sustainability Characteristics (SSC). The study concludes that integrating these factors into public space design can enhance social cohesion and community well-being. By emphasizing social sustainability in urban planning and policymaking, this research underscores the need for inclusive, vibrant neighborhoods. Addressing the identified factors enables urban planners and designers to strengthen community ties and improve overall urban quality of life.
This study investigates the socio-spatial dynamics of Nahr Beirut, a frequently overlooked yet significant part of Beirut’s urban landscape. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s concept of 'representational spaces,' the research explores how neoliberal urban policies have influenced the riverbanks, mainly through profit-driven development that has marginalized local communities. The study examines six regions along the Nahr Beirut River, uncovering indirect forms of resistance that residents actively employ to challenge these neoliberal interventions. Indirect resistance is demonstrated through community-driven practices such as workshops, graffiti, and architectural modifications that question top-down urban policies. The research reveals a complex interplay between neoliberal urbanization and grassroots resistance, illustrating how marginalized communities assert their right to the city in the face of socioeconomic and political challenges. By focusing on the everyday practices of urban resistance, the study contributes to the ongoing discourse on how communities can reclaim urban spaces to safeguard their social and cultural identity. While the study is geographically confined to the Nahr Beirut area, it underscores the potential for future urban policy changes that could reshape the dynamics of resistance and development. The research advocates for a more inclusive, community-centered approach to urban planning that harmonizes economic growth with social equity and environmental sustainability.
Many cities are currently rethinking their urban planning with the aim of prioritizing proximity between places of residence and essential services. This approach, promoted mainly in European countries under the concept of the “15-minute city,” seeks to minimize travel times through the use of active modes of transport, such as walking and cycling. To achieve this, a balanced redistribution of urban services is proposed, harmonizing land use with improvements in active transportation infrastructure. However, in Latin America, urban development continues to favor fragmentation, with growth that relies on long commutes and encourages reliance on private vehicles, undermining public transport systems and limiting access to sustainable modes. This study evaluates pedestrian accessibility in the city of Manizales (Colombia), applying a cumulative opportunities potential (COP) model for six types of facilities. The results show a concentration of services in central areas and a marked spatial inequality affecting urban peripheries. To reduce the socio-spatial gap and improve the quality of life, it is suggested to promote proximity policies that improve the distribution of opportunities and strengthen walking access for all inhabitants.
Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) offers significant potential for reducing reliance on fossil fuels while enhancing the utilization of renewable energy sources. The performance of TCES systems is critically influenced by the properties of thermochemical heat storage materials (TCMs), which directly affect both energy efficiency and storage capacity. In this study, a laboratory-scale experimental investigation was conducted to assess the performance of three pumice-based composite TCMs (P/LiCl-CaCl₂, P/CaCl₂, and CS-P/CaCl₂) under varying air velocities. Pumice particles with diameters of 1–3 mm were employed for P/LiCl-CaCl₂ and P/CaCl₂, whereas coarse size (CS) (4–6 mm) pumice was used for CS-P/CaCl₂. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of particle size and LiCl incorporation on the thermal performance of composite TCMs. Key performance indicators, including energy efficiency (ηI), exergy efficiency (ηII), energy storage density (Ed), and outlet peak temperature (To,p), were determined. For P/LiCl-CaCl₂, average energy efficiencies of 64.0% and 76.6% were recorded at air velocities of 2.1 m/s and 3.7 m/s, respectively, with corresponding exergy efficiencies of 10.5% and 11.2%, and Tₒ,p values of 46.4 °C and 47.7 °C. The P/CaCl₂ composite achieved lower performance, with energy efficiencies of 44.7% and 48.4%, exergy efficiencies of 4.9% and 5.2%, and Tₒ,p values of 42.5 °C and 39.0 °C. For CS-P/CaCl₂, energy efficiencies were 64.2% and 72.2%, exergy efficiencies were 5.8% and 5.4%, and Tₒ,p values were 40.9 °C and 39.0 °C, respectively. The maximum Ed of approximately 181 kWh/m³ was observed for P/LiCl-CaCl₂ at 3.7 m/s. Across all composite materials, both energy efficiency and Ed increased with higher air velocity. Furthermore, the exergy efficiency of P/LiCl-CaCl₂ was nearly double that of the other two composites, indicating a clear advantage of LiCl incorporation combined with smaller pumice particle sizes.
Offshore jack-up platforms operate in harsh marine environments, where undetected structural degradation can quickly escalate into catastrophic failure. To address this challenge, this study presents an intelligent Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) framework specifically designed for jack-up platform legs. Unlike previous offshore SHM approaches that often rely on single-modality vibration analysis or lack field-validated digital twins, the proposed system integrates high-density wireless sensor networks, a real-time physics-based digital twin, and advanced machine learning to enable accurate and timely damage detection under real operating conditions. The architecture deploys 128 marinized sensor nodes in a mesh network, continuously feeding data into a high-fidelity finite element digital twin updated via extended Kalman filtering. A hybrid learning pipeline—combining variational autoencoders for anomaly detection with graph neural networks for spatial localization—enables high-resolution damage assessment without extensive labeled field data. Laboratory-scale validation on a 1:22 physical model and preliminary offshore deployment demonstrated the system’s ability to detect stiffness losses as small as 2.5%, with localization errors within ±0.8 m and a classification accuracy of 94.2%. Edge computing at the sensor level reduced communication loads by 65% while maintaining an end-to-end inference latency of 850–1100 ms. Field deployment over six months achieved 94.7% uptime, with maintenance costs reduced by 23% and unplanned downtime by 41%. An extended 18-month trial further achieved 99.2% availability, a 34% cost reduction, and a 67% reduction in downtime. This integrated, field-proven framework offers a scalable solution for continuous monitoring, early damage detection, and maintenance optimization in critical offshore assets.
Smart cities around the world promise its citizens more resilient, inclusive and sustainable living environment. They present an integration of physical and digital planning and are perceived by governments around the world as a path to achieve a new urban Utopia. However, its application in developing countries is full of challenges, the question is how inclusive new smart cities will be in countries facing high percentage of poverty and illiteracy and how they can contribute in sustainable urban development to these countries. In Egypt, a New Administrative Capital is currently under construction. The new smart city promises a high-quality living for Egyptians. However, there is a debate about how inclusive it will be and how the smart city model can be adopted in Egypt. The paper presents a critical reflection on the topic. We question this utopian vision serves which parties. The article concludes that despite the efforts done by the private sector and the government to promote the New Administrative Capital as a model of smart cities in the Middle East, the project represents a neoliberal ideology inclined towards a business model than a social justice model and proposes a set of policies to restore the balance.
High-performing cooling fluids are increasingly gaining prominence in thermal applications due to their superior heat transfer (HT) features compared to conventional coolants. This is attributed to the sub-optimal cooling and heat transfer limitations by conventional coolants. Reports reveal that HT enhancement includes different modifications to the radiator for effective heat dissipation, engineered suspensions of nanoparticles in base fluids ensures the direct deployment of existing radiators. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticle was prepared by modified Hummer’s technique via reduction process, with graphite powder as starting material, while silicon dioxide (SiO₂) was commercially sought. A comparative study was conducted to investigate the heat transfer of de-ionised (DI) water-based rGO-SiO₂ against its individual make-ups (rGO and SiO₂). At different volumetric concentrations (0.1%–0.3%) and temperature (20-60°C), SiO₂-rGO|0.3 composite nanofluid achieved a thermal conductivity (TC) enhancement of 16.8%, 9.4%, 7.1%, and 1.8% over the DI-Water, SiO₂|0.1, rGO|0.1, and SiO₂|0.3, which suggest a quick temperature equalization and better heat dissipation potential via Brownian motion, but 0.6% lower Tc compared to rGO|0.3 nanofluid. The viscosities of SiO₂|0.1, rGO|0.1, SiO₂|0.3, rGO|0.3 and SiO₂-rGO|0.3 nanofluids increased by 4.5%, 8.8%, 12.2%, 17.0%, and 14.0%, respectively, which may lead to an increase in pumping power demand, however, the positive figure of merit (TCR>1.0) justifies the nanofluids as better alternative to the basefluid. Furthermore, the Nu values of DI-Water/rGO SiO₂|0.3 was enhanced by 27.4%, 11.6%, 13.2%, 7.6% and 3.9% over the basefluid, SiO₂|0.1, rGO|0.1, SiO₂|0.3 and rGO|0.3 nanofluids, with an observable Nu increment of 3.71% and 8.87% of SiO|0.3 and rGO|0.3 compared to SiO|0.1 and rGO|0.1, respectively. In conclusion, TC ratio of the nanofluids were above unity, indicating enhanced heat transfer capability of the nanofluids compared to the base-fluid, and the MATLAB implementation of the proposed nusselt number correlation, fitted from experimental data achieved an R2 = 0.964.
This study aims to identify, analyze, and prioritize the key constraints affecting the conservation and management of urban heritage sites in Saudi Arabia while evaluating viable solutions to address these challenges. Although previous research has acknowledged these constraints, comprehensive prioritization of their impact and systematic evaluation of alternative strategies remain limited. To address this gap, the study adopts an expert-driven approach and employs the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to assess the relative importance of seven critical constraints and five potential solutions. The findings reveal that lack of awareness and appreciation (LAA) (27%) is the most significant constraint, followed by an inadequate legal framework (ILF) (23%) and a lack of professional expertise (LPE) (20%). Rapid development and urbanization (RDU) (4%) and insufficient funding and resources (IFR) (2%) rank lowest. Among the proposed solutions, improving legislation and enforcement (ILE) (37.7%) emerged as the most effective strategy, followed by raising public awareness (RPA) (24.1%) and fostering partnerships (FP) (19.6%), while allocating adequate resources (AAR) (3.5%) was deemed least influential. Based on these results, the study proposes a final FAHP-based decision-making framework for enhancing heritage conservation in Saudi Arabia. This framework integrates expert judgment with fuzzy logic to systematically prioritize challenges and align them with the most impactful interventions. It provides policymakers, planners, and heritage professionals with a structured tool for developing targeted, data-informed strategies that promote the sustainable preservation and revitalization of urban heritage sites. In doing so, the framework also supports heritage tourism and aligns with national development goals.
Over the past twenty years, rapid urbanization in Dubai has fundamentally changed land use. This has necessitated significant infrastructure development to meet the needs of the growing urban population. Therefore, this study examines changes in public satisfaction with the Dubai Metro between 2010 and 2018. Surveys were conducted at eight strategically selected metro stations, with 400 respondents at each time point, to evaluate six core factors, which are usage, cost, facilities, challenges, contextual integration, and walkability. Statistical analysis, including Chi-square tests, revealed significant shifts across all factors. Daily metro usage increased by over 10%, indicating growing reliance on the system, while perceptions of affordability declined, with twice as many users finding fares expensive in 2018. Satisfaction with station facilities and contextual integration improved substantially, reflecting successful investments in infrastructure and urban planning. However, accessibility and external walkability emerged as growing concerns, underscoring the need for enhanced pedestrian connectivity and inclusive design. The findings offer actionable insights for transport policy and urban development for Dubai and underscore the importance of continuous feedback in shaping public infrastructure.
